August 12, 2024 5:47 pm

Whether you are Rory McIlroy or a new beginner player, 66% of your shots will be taken on what we call the short game: chipping, pitching, bunker shots and putting. Yet none of us ever spend anywhere near 66% of our practice time on this vital area of the game. At World of Golf London, I’m afraid we can’t offer a practice chipping area. However, while the weather is at its best and the evenings are at their longest, just go and find a patch of open ground that you can hit some golf balls – without interfering or upsetting anyone. Your golf handicap will certainly quickly thank you for doing so. If you have a back garden, then invest in some 30% golf balls. They are plastic so you will cause no damage, but they look and feel a lot like a real golf ball. When you see them in the back garden they will remind you to go and try a few chip and pitch shots every evening.

When you come to play out on the course, make an effort to get there extra early. Spend 15 minutes practicing some putting, particularly longer putts, before teeing off. I always recommend longer putts as this will help with your feel for the pace of the green.

For all golfers, the short game is where your score is made. You may have heard the old adage true of professional golfers: they drive for show and putt for dough. That still rings true for golf club members wanting to win trophies.

Categorised in: Tip of the month, World of Golf London